Uke gets smarter... but he never quite gets smart enough to realize that tennis-serving someone's head is not the most effective assault.Continuing from my last post, in which I discuss subtle variations in the 6 incarnations of the 3-push, I'll now turn my attention to the next most frequent attack: The "Head Bash." You know, that great big silly-looking overhead smash of Uke's head... Just like in the 3-push, each manifestation of the head bash will be different than the one before it, based on what Uke learned in his previous encounter.

Ippon Seoi Nage: Similar to the first 3-push, this is a totally reckless attack, where Uke is trying to knock Tori's head into her torso, and has no regard for his balance, extension, and general vulerability. He puts his whole body into the attack.

Uki Goshi: Now, Uke realizes that he was overcommitted to the attack, and holds back. He better balances his weight on each foot, and straightens up some (as opposed to bending during the prior attack) to stifle any incoming Seoi Nage. He also posts his left hand to check Tori's hips, should she try to blast him with Seoi again. All of this sets up Uki Goshi quite nicely.

Ura Nage: Now Uke has modified his prior thinking. He still doesn't want to destroy his balance (as in Seoi), but stiffening up wasn't a good idea (as in Uki Goshi). Now, he sinks his weight a bit, and adds his heavy follow through back in. And gets blasted with Ura Nage.

Yoko Guruma: To thwart the Ura Nage, as well as the Seoi and Uki Goshi, Uke now lengthens his base (basically taking a larger second step towards Tori). Tori, in one of his most oblivious moments of the whole Kata, doesn't pick up on the change and attempts another Ura Nage. Uke then responds to the Ura by headlocking Tori and shoving her head down at ~90 degrees to the original attack. This gives Tori the perfect setup for the Yoko Guruma.

Yes, you are right. If you are tall, then you allow a couple of inches more. If you are short, them you get a couple of inches closer.Notice that in the Otaki/Draeger book, they are exactly two tatami apart from each other. Inokuna-sensei was 5'10" but his uke is shorter, maybe 5'8".Each tatami is 1 meter or 39 inches wide and 2 meters or 78 inches long.